Denver Metro Schools Closed Wednesday Due to Ongoing Threat

Schools across the Denver area are closed today as a “massive manhunt” continues for a woman “infatuated with Columbine” who is said to be armed and “extremely dangerous,” according to police

By Jessica Davis

April 17, 2019

[UPDATED: April 17, 2019, at 11:27 a.m.]

CBS Denver has confirmed that the woman wanted in connection to threats that led to the closure of Denver-area schools Wednesday has been captured. The 18-year-old female suspect was captured Wednesday morning in Clear Creek County.

The extensive search operation was centered at the base of Mount Evans and included a SWAT team and a Clear Creek County snowcat.

Police told CBS Denver that the suspect has been taken into custody.

The woman was considered to be armed and dangerous. She was “infatuated with the perpetrators of Columbine,” authorities said. They did not elaborate on the comments made by the suspect, only that she wasn’t threatening any specific school in her comments.

School was canceled for more than half a million students on Colorado’s Front Range on Wednesday as a result of the manhunt for the suspect, who authorities said posed a “credible threat.”

Original story continues below.

Districts across the Denver metropolitan area ordered their schools closed Wednesday as the FBI and local police continue their “massive manhunt” for an 18-year-old Florida woman officials said is “infatuated with Columbine”. The woman purchased a shotgun shortly after arriving in Colorado this week, officials said.

Most major school districts in the Denver area, as well as others, have canceled classes. Columbine High School’s home district, Jeffco Public Schools, was previously on lockout Tuesday along with more than 20 other Jeffco schools due to “credible threats.”

Police and federal authorities continue to search for the woman, who traveled to Colorado from Miami on Monday night. Authorities confirmed it was her presence that triggered the lockouts at schools Tuesday.

“This has become a massive manhunt,” said Dean Phillips, special agent in charge of the Denver FBI office, during a Tuesday night news conference.

Denver Police are conduction sweeps of campuses looking for the woman.

“As a precaution Denver police officers have been directed to remain attentive around schools,” said Marika Putnam, spokeswoman for the Denver Police Department on Wednesday morning.

The FBI and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office asks residents to be vigilant and report any suspicious people.

The threats from this woman came days before Saturday, the 20th anniversary of the Columbine High School massacre, in which two students shot and killed 12 of their classmates and a teacher.